Folding top for rumble seats



March 27, 1934. s NEWTON, JR 1,952,818

FOLDING TOP FOR RUMBLE SEATS Filed April 28. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l TRHCYS. NEWTON,QTR.

rah 27 1934. T. s. NEWTQN, J

FOLDING TOP FOR RUMBLE SEATS Filed April 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March27, 1934. T. s. NEWTON. JR 1,952,813

' FOLDING TOP FOR RUMBLE SEATS Filed April 28. 1950 s Sheets-Sheet sMoe/wt "l'RAcy 5. NEWTON, J

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

My present application is a continuation in part of my application filedJanuary 3, 1928, Serial No. 244,131, and like such application, isdirected to an invention in folding tops for rumble seats.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a top which maybe applied to automobiles in use, or at the time of manufacture, andwhich can be quickly opened or raised to position for use, and which canbe instantly folded out of use and contained snugly in the back of theautomobile. 7

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding orcollapsible top which can be easily stored or placed in position foruse, and which will, when in use, make a perfect top and conform to thegeneral outline of the automobile, in order that an attractive andornamental appearance will be assured.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding top whichcan be easily adjusted to the desired position, and which can beproduced at such a small cost as to make its use highly desirable.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding top whichwill possess merit and advantages in point of simplicity and durability,ease of operation, and which in all particulars will prove efiicient,desirable and practicable.

A further object is to provide a folding top for rumble seats which incollapsed condition may be stored between the seat and back of therumble, and which from such stored position may be raised, and eitherextended to form a top for the rumble seat, or swung bodily to aposition behind the seat back, for entirely clearing the rumble seat, tothereby allow of ready ingress and egress therefrom, and to allowpassengers to use the rumble seat without a top is so desired.

A further object is to provide in connection with such top a sidecurtain construction which will effectively enclose the rumble seatspace and protect the occupants thereof from the elements.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for detachablyconnecting the top structure, when in extended position, to the originaltop of the vehicle in such manner as to render the joint between thepermanent and folding top weather proof.

Another object is to provide a side curtain construction which may bequickly attached to and detached from the folding top structure, andwhich utilizes the rain gutter around the deck opening in providing aweather proof enclosure for the rumble seat.

t A further object of the invention is to provide a rumble seat tophaving details of construction directed to economy in manufacture, andefficiency and reliability in operation.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

In the drawings, which show one of the forms which the invention maytake, with certain modifications,-

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an automobile of the coup typehaving a rumble seat with my folding top applied, and shown in positionfor use.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation on a larger scale of the frame workof my folding top, showing parts of the seat and the permanent top.

Figure 3 represents a top plan view, on a smaller scale than Figure 2,with the central parts broken away, for compactness of illustration, ofthe top in extended position, the cover being removed.

Figure 4 represents a side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the top frame work, showing the gear connection between thefront or inner parallel bars forming a portion of the forward framesection, and the upper branches of the braces.

Figure 5 represents a top plan view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary view in side elevation showing theform that the top rear cross member may take when formed of metal,instead of the wooden form shown in Figure 2.

Figure '7 represents a side view of the frame shown in folded orcollapsed position and out of use down between the rumble seat and itsback.

Figure 8 represents a side view of the frame when it has been raised outof the stored position of Figure '7, after the rumble seat has beenraised, and swung bodily upward about the links in position to either beextended to top supporting position of Figure 2, or to be swung to theposition behind the seat back illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 9 represents a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, onthe line 9-9 of Figure 3, showing the connection between the collapsibletop and the original car top.

Figure 10 represents a side view of the frame shown in folded orcollapsed condition, and disposed in rear of the hinged back of theseat.

Figure 11 represents a fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion ofthe original car top and the front portion of the frame,'in detachedcondition, showing the difference in curvature between these parts. Inthis form both the original top is curved, and the front cross memoer orbar of the top, the curvature of the latter being on a greater radiusthan the curvature of the top.

Figure 12 represents a view similar to Figure 11. in which the back ofthe original top is straight. In this instance, the front cross memberor bar of my folding top is curved in the reverse direction to thatshown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 represents a view similar to Figure 4, showing a modified formof means for holding the forward frame section in braced position whenthe top is extended.

Figure 14 represents a top plan View of the parts shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing aconnection of the top to the rumble seat back particularly adaptable toFord cars.

Figure 16 represents a side elevational view of my top, extended inposition with the top material and the side curtains on.

Figure 1'? represents a fragmentary cross section on the line 17-18,1718 of Figure 16, showing the manner of fastening the top material andside curtains, such view looking forwardly.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View along the line 17-18,1'7l8 of Figure 16, looking to the rear.

Figure 19 represents a perspective view of the top in extended positionwith the top material and side curtains on.

In referring to the drawings, it will be understood that my folding topis particularly designed for use in connection with the coupe orroadster type of automobile 1, which is equipped with the rumble seatstructure composed of the seat 2 (Figure 7), and the hinged back 3,although the top may be used in any situation where it would perform itsfunctions in an eflicient manner.

The top is of simple construction, and includes the pair of front orinner parallel bars 4 which,

when the top is open, are in a horizontal position and lie close to theusual or original top 5 of the automobile. The bars 4 have their innerends pivoted in the outer ends of the boxes '7 of the rectangular frame8, said bars 4 carrying gear wheels 9 which mesh with racks 10. Theseracks are carried on the upper ends 11 of the upper branches 12 of thebrace members, the lower branches of which are indicated at 14. Thebranches 12 and 14 are pivotally connected together at 13, and brace theframe when in extended position.

The front bars 4 may be connected at their forward ends by a crossmember or cross bar 6 to form a forward frame section. This section ishinged to the rear frame section 8, which includes the pair of side barsand the central cross bar 8' of the frame as a whole. The side bars ofthe rear frame section 8 at their rear ends are pivoted as at 15, to theupper ends of the pair of back bars 16, the lower ends 17 of which arepivoted to the lower ends of the braces and to the upper ends of thecurved links 18. Such links at their lower ends are pivoted at 19 to thefastenings or supports 20, which are fastened to the hinged back 3 ofthe rumble seat below the upper edge thereof, and form the anchorage forthe top. The back bars with their cross bar 7 16 form a back framesection to which the rear frame section is pivoted.

From this construction it will be noted that I provide the forwardframe'sectim, nc ud g e pair of front supporting bars, the open frameforming the rear top support and the pair of twopart braces, and thatthe folding of these braces rearward causes the racks 1O thereon to turnthe pinions or gear wheels 9 cf the bars 4 to fold said bars back uponthe frame 8, and also causes the rear frame 8, together with the forwardframe folded thereon, to fold down against the back bars 16.Thisoperation brings the parts into the position shown in Figure 8, inwhich the frame members and back bars are collapsed in overlappingposition so as to occupy a minimum of space. The moving inward orforward of the braces from this position, causes the frame to open andassume the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The racks and the gearsare in the correct ratio (about 1 to 5) to throw the forward frame 4into its folded position with reference to the rear frame 8 as suchbrace assumes its folded position with reference to the rear bars 16.When the top is in extended position, the forward frame 4 will not move,should the top be swung backwardly about the pivots at the upper ends ofthe links, and hence it is possible to move the top backwardly aboutsuch pivots while in extended position, in order to allow one to get inor out of the seat without having to fold the top.

The frame structure is covered with a suitable cover material 24 whichfolds with the frame sections, and is extended when the latter are extended.

From the position of Figure 8, the top may be swung bodily backward anddownward around the pivots which connect the lower ends of the braces,the lower end of the back frame, and the upper ends of the links 18together, to position the frame at the rear of the rumble seat back, sothat the entire rumble seat space is clear of obstruction, except forthe links 18 and their supports 20, to thereby provide for readyentrance to and egress from the rumble seat space, and to allow maximumroom for the piling of baggage or packages upon the rumble seat, andagainst the upholstery of the back thereof, should this be desired andalso to allow for the use of the rumble seatforpassengers, without topifso desired. The presence of the supports 20 and the links 18 will notinterfere with this, since the supports and lower ends of the links whenin this position, do not project beyond the forward surface of theupholstery, the supports being comparatively short, as shown in Figure10. The links, it will be noted, are of such length that when in theraised position of Figures 2, 8 and 10, the upper ends will bepositioned-above the upper edge of the seat back, so that the frame isfree to swing downwardly to occupy a position substantially parallelwith and to the rear of the back of the seat. This is allowed also bythe position of the pivots connecting the frame with the upper ends ofthe links being to the rear of the plane of the seat back.

From the position of Figure 8 also, the frame, together with the links18, may be swung bodily downwardly to a storage position between theseat and back, as shown in Figure 7, the frame being bodily lowered bythe links in assuming this position. This entirely clears the upper edgeof the seat back so that it may, without hinderance,

fold into its closed position with reference to the deck of the rumble.The curved links are arranged within the lateral edges of the seat back,and the frame work does not extend beyond such edges, so that it willpass through the opening in the deck without hinderance, to allow theseat back to assume its fully closed position. Figure 3 illustrates thewidth of the frame as compared to the rumble seat back and deck opening,27 being the gutter around the opening which defines the dimensionsthereof.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the folding top supportingstructure carrying the top as a whole, is pivoted to the pair of curvedlinks 18 at their upper ends, while the lower ends of said links arepivoted to the pair of securing brackets or supports 20 which arerigidly mounted on and movable with the hinged back, and this is afeature of para mount importance as it allows the frame with the topmaterial to be bodily raised upon the links to a position from which itmay be extended upwardly and forwardly for use, or may be swung incollapsed position backwardly and downwardly and disposed in the rear ofthe back seat where it is out of the way and where if desired it may beprotected by a suitable covering, and a position from which it can befolded or collapsed and bodily lowered by the links to a storageposition between the seat and back when the latter is closed down, allof which insures a practical and useful device of this character.

The heels 18, at the upper end of the links 18, co-operating withsimilar heels at the lower ends of the rear bars 16, maintain the topwhen in raised position, either collapsed, as in Figure 8, or extendedas in Figure 2, against folding forwardly around the pivots whichconnect the braces, rear bars, and the links together. In being loweredrearwardly and backwardly, to assume its position behind the seat back,the top supporting frame pivots in such relationship with the links thatthe heels sparate, so as not to interfere with these movements. Thereare also co-operating heels 18 between the lower ends of the links andthe supports 20, which prevent the links from folding backwardly fromthe raised position, but permit them to pivot forwardly and downwardlyto carry the frame to storage position.

The supports 20 may pass through the seat back and caps 20 may bescrewed on their pro- J'ecting ends up against the seat back to holdthem tightly in position. In Figure 15 I have shown a constructionparticularly adaptable for Ford cars of the Model A type, and in thisconstruction a shoe 35 is shaped to fit against the inwardly projectingflange 36 of the metal seat back at the top of the upholstery 37, suchshoe abutting against a shoulder 38 formed where the reduced shank 39merges with the larger portion of the support 20, to thereby form aneven bearing surface for the shoulder and cooperate with the flange andback metal section of the seat back in rigidly maintaining the support.Where the seat back is of such construction that it forms a bearingsurface for the shoulder 8, the shoe may be dispensed with.

The upper ends of the back bars 16 may be bent slightly forwardly andprovided with a rear cross bar 16' supporting a cross member of wood 16for shaping the top material where it folds over the corner formed atthis point. Or, if desired, the upper ends of the back .bars may becurved forwardly as indicated in Figure 6, and connected by atransversely curved metal cross member 16 to shape the top. Brackets 38may be used to connect the rear pivots of the frame 8 with the upperends of the back bars.

If desired, the-upper ends of the brace members 12, and the racks 10,may be connected by a cross rod similar to the rod 33, shown in Figure14, to insure the brace members pivoting in unison with reference to theframe 8, to ease the break of the brace rearwardly on one side of theframe, when the brace on the opposite side thereof is broken. The braceson both sides will break when that on one side is broken, without theuse of the rod, due to the transmission of motion through the forwardframe, but the use of the rod will be advantageous in easing thisoperation, by transmitting the motion directly from one rack to theother, thus doing away with any drag should the forward frame 1 tend totwist, which drag would tend to interfere with the simultaneousoperation of the gearmg.

I may, instead of using the rack and gear connection between the frontand rear sections of the top frame, utilize an arrangement illustratedin Figures 13 and 14. In this form, the boxes which house the gears aredispensed with, and the forward end of the rear frame 8 is provided withthe out-turned stops 34 which limit the forward or extending movement ofthe front frame 4 with reference to the rear frame 8. The rear ends ofthe side bars of the front frame 4, in this instance, are provided withthe disks 31 having the notches 3l',into which the ends of hooks32connected with the upper ends of the brace members 12 engage when thetop frame work is in extended position, as indicated in Figure 13. Thisinter-engagement of the disks and hooks retains the frame sections 4 and8 in locked position until the braces are broken. When this occurs, themovement of the brace members 12 will withdraw the hooks from thenotches in the disks, allowing the forward frame member to be foldedback upon the rear frame member 8 and the latter to be folded down uponthe back bars. The cross rod 33 connecting the hooks 32 insure thesimultaneous action of the latter in locking and unlocking the framework.

I may provide a detachable connection between the forward frame of myrumble seat top, and the original top 5 of the machine, and in doingthis, I may utilize the pieces 22, fastened to the rear faces of theforward cross bar 6, and extending therebelow, in conjunction with thestuds 21 fastened to the original top, the lower ends of the pieces 22being slotted or recessed. as at 22' to fit over the rear reduced andthreaded ends of the studs and to be locked thereagainst by the threadedknobs 39. This construction is shown in Figure 9. The studs may befastened to the original top by having their forward ends reduced andthreaded and passed through openings made therein, to be secured on theinside by the lock washers and nuts, indicated at 40. The constructionillustrated is one which will be found r of a curvature which is lessthan the curvature of 1 the rear wall of the original top, asillustrated in Figure 11, or when the rear wall of the original top isstraight, of a curvature reversed to that of Figure 11, as shown inFigure 12, the curvature in each instance being such that beforeattachment the nearest point of the front bar to the Original top occursbetween the studs 2l,as illustrated in these figures, and use a weatherstrip 23 extending the length of the front bar, which strip is sewed tothe cover material 24 where the latter extends over the forward face ofthe bar. In either instance, when the pieces 22 are fitted over thestuds, and the knobs 39 screwed down, the front bar, in assuming thecurvature of the original top in the case of Figure 11, or instraightening out in the case of Figure 12, clamps the weather strip 23against the permanent top and squeezes it tight 'to make a water proofconnection. The central portion of the weather strip may be higher inthe middle of the bar and slope off towards its ends, so as to form adrain for throwing the water to both sides of the top. The weather stripmay be in the nature of rubber or rubber covered material, sewed to thetop covering material where the latter folds over the forward face ofthe cross piece 6.

The top material 24 at its forward edge, where it folds over the forwardand under edges of the cross bar 6, is attached to the'rear face of suchcross bar by a suitable number of snap fasteners 41, one of which isshown in Figure 17. The lat eral edges of the top material may lap overthe forward and rear frame sections 4 and 8, respectively, to beconnected thereto by the snap fasteners 42. The cover material extendsdown over the back frame section, to be attached by suitable fasteners43 to the back bars 16 thereof, and when the top is extended, the rearedge of the top material is preferably attached to the rear face bf theseat back 3 near the upper edge of the latter, by suitable snapfasteners 44. At the corner formed by the rear and back frame sections,the top material extends down in a triangular piece .24 to hang on theinside of the brace members 12-44, and the lower edge of this triangularpiece preferably takes the general conformation of the brace members.The notches 45 and id-are provided in the material to allow thetriangular section to extend on the inside of the braces. When the topis to be folded for storage purposes, the 'fastenings 44. are undone.The top material can then fold with and be stored with the frame-work.It will be understood that the fastening of the rear edge of the topmaterial to the seat back, is not a necessity, but may be practiced tomake a more weather-proof connection. The lower extremities of thetriangular pieces 24. may, if desired, be attached by snap fasteners 47to the side pieces of the frame which encloses the seat back upholstery37, where such frame is utilized, as indicated in Figure 18, but thislikewise is not a necessity, being done merely for the purposes ofmaking a more snug enclosure.

In ordinary weather the top material will form sufficient protection tothe occupants of the rumble seat. In stormy weather, however, it isdesirable to use side curtains, and these I have provided. They appearin Figures 1619 at 25. These curtains at their upper edges aredetachably connected with the side bars of the forward frame section 4by means of hooks 30, the upper edges of the side curtains preferablyextending up beyond the lower edges of the side edges of the topmaterial. The side curtains are cut on the bias at their rear upperportions to overlap the lower edges of the triangular pieces of the topcover material, and are fastened to the lower edges of the latter bysuitable detachable fastening means 48. While the biased edges of theside curtains are shown attached to the outside of side curtains extendinto the gutters 2'? of the.

rumble deck, as at 25, and are provided on the inside with flaps 49connected by detachable snap fasteners 50 with the inner flanges of thegutter. At their forward edges, the side curtains are provided withflaps 26, which extend from the front edge of the forward frame memberdown the rear face of the original top and around onto the deck of therumble, and terminate near the front end of the gutters 27, preferablyslightly overlapping such ends, to provide a water shed along the joint,

between the side curtains and the original top and rumble deck, and todirect the water that may collect thereon into the gutter. Fasteners 26are provided for the flaps 26 at the points where the original top joinsthe rumble deck. Additional fasteners between the original top and theflaps, and the rumble deck and the flap, may be provided if desired. Therear edge of the side curtains may lap over the ends of the rumble seatback. Windows 28 and 29 of suitable material, are provided in the sidecurtains, and the back of the top material, respectively.

it will be observed that the top material in conjunction with the sidecurtains, comprises a complete enclosure for the rumble space, and thatthe weathenproof joint between the collapsible top, together with thewater shed between the side curtains the original top and rumble deck,provides an adequately weather tight construction at the junction of therumble enclosure with the original top, that the water turned by therumble enclosur is directed into the gutters where it will escape to therear, so that there will be no tende cy for accumulated rain to find itsway into the enclosure; that the structure whereby the side curtainsembrace the inner flanges of the gutters, forms a weathertight jointalong the lower edges of the curtains, and that the overlap of therumble seat back by the top material and curtains forms an adequate- 1ytight joint at the rear of theenclosure. It will be further observedthat the construction is such that the side curtains may be applied byaperscn from within the rumble seat enclosure, and may be likewisedetached from such position.

The foregoing description been given for purposes of clearness ofunderstanding, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, butthe appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, inview of the prior art.

Notice is hereby given that the subject matter of the curtain structuredescribed herein and illustrated in Figures 16 to 19 inclusive, isclaimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 574,630, filed as adivision hereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with the rumble seat of an automobile and its hingedback, of a pair of supports attached to the seat back and projectingforward of the same, a pair of curved links disposed in front of theseat back and within its lateral edges, said links being pivoted attheir lower ends to said hinged members and at their lower ends pivotedalong 'acommon axis to the outer ends of said links, said top supportingmembers, back bars and braces adapted to be collapsed into compactfolded condition and to be bodily swung about the outer ends of saidlinks toa position behind the back or to be lowered bodily with saidlinks to a storage position between the seat and back. e

2; In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination with the seat andits back, of a pair of supports forward of the seat back and within thelateral edges thereof, a collapsible frame including top supportingmembers hinged together and braces and bars pivotally connected at theirupper ends with the supporting members, a pair of links to the upperends of which the lower ends of said braces and bars are pivoted, saidlinks at their lower ends being pivoted to said supports at pointsforward of said back, said links being of such length that, when raised,their upper ends will be positioned above the upper edge of the seatback, said frame adapted to be collapsed and to be bodily swung aboutthe links to a position behind the back or to be bodily lowered by saidlinks to a storage position between the seat and back.

3. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination with the seat andits hinged back, of a collapsible top frame, including top supportingmembers hingedly connected together and adapted to be collapsed inoverlapping position into compact form, means for supporting the topframe upon the seat back and for bodily raising and lowering the topframe as a whole with respect to the seat back, comprising a pair oflinks arranged forward of the seat back within the lateral edgesthereof, supporting pivots at the upper ends of said links upon whichthe top frame is pivoted for bodily movement, supports carried by theseat back to which the links are pivoted at their lower ends, the linksbeing of such length as, when raised, to position said supporting pivotsabove the seat back.

4. A folding top for rumble seats, comprising top supporting framemembers hinged together upon which the top material is supported, a pairof supports secured to the rumble seat back, links connected at theirlower ends to said supports, and hinged braces and back bars havingtheir lower ends connected together and to the upper end of the links,and having their upper ends connected to said top supporting framemembers.

5. In a folding top for an automobile rumble seat, the combination withthe seat and its back, of a top supporting structure comprising hingedlyconnected top supporting members, braces and bars adapted to becollapsed in overlapping position into compact form and when socollapsed to be positioned either behind the back, or in front of thesame between the back and seat, supports on the seat back projectingforwardly therefrom and curved links hinged both to the supports and tothe top supporting structure, such links being longer than the distancefrom said supports to the upper edge of the seat back.

6. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination of a supportingframe for the top material including supporting members hinged together,back bars hinged thereto, said frame members and back bars adapted to becollapsed in overlapping position, hinged braces connecting thesupporting frame members with the back bars, and links to which the backbars and hinged braces are pivotally connected and hingedly connectingthe top supporting frame as a whole to the seat back.

7. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination of a collapsibletop supporting frame comprising members hinged together upon which thetop material is adapted to be supported, back bars and braces pivotallyconnected at their upper ends to said hinged top supporting members andpivotally connected with respect to'each other at their lower ends, saidframe members, back bars and braces adapted to be collapsed inoverlapping position into compact form, supports adapted to be attachedto the seat back, and means for conecting said back bars and braces tosaid supports.

8. A folding top for rumble seats, consisting of a flexible top, afolding frame carrying said top and composed of a pair of brackets tosecure the frame to the back, a pair of links having their lower endsconnected to said brackets, a pair of hinged brace members and a pair ofback bars having their lower ends connected together and to the upperends of said links, a frame connected with the upper ends of the backbars and braces, and a pair of front bars, having their inner endsconnected with said frame, gear wheels on the inner ends of said bars,racks on the upper ends of said braces to mesh with said foo gear wheelsto cause the movement of said racks to close the bars upward andbackward upon said frame.

9. The combination of the forward seat top of an automobile, a rumbleseat top adapted to be detachably connected to the back of the forwardseat top and including a flexible cross member of contour differing fromthat of the back of the forward seat top,'a weather strip carried bysaid cross member disposed between the same and the forward seat top,and means for clamping the cross member against the back of the forwardseat top, and to distort the cross member into contour conforming tothat of the seat top to thereby squeeze the weather strip between saidcross member and forward seat top.

10. The combination with an automobile having a forward seat top, of arumble seat top having a forward cross bar, a compressible weather stripcarried by the cross bar between the same and the forward seat top, andmeans between the cross bar and the forward seat for drawing the crossbar toward the forward seat top to thereby squeeze the weather stripbetween the cross bar and the forward seat top.

11. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination of a collapsibleframe-work including sections pivoted together, and collapsible bracesadapted to support the sections in extended position, one of thesections being provided with recessed locking members, and the bracesbeing provided with hook members adapted to engage the recessed lockingmembers when the frame sections are in extended position for locking theframe members in such position and adapted to release the lockingmembers when the braces ing a top and a rumble seat, a frame having sidebars, and a cross bar secured to and carried by the side bars forengaging the rear side wall of the top, arms secured to the back of therumble seat and to the rear ends of the side bars, a

a cover for the frame having its front end secured to the cross bar, anda gasket carried by the cross bar contacting with the rear side wall ofthe top. V

TRACY SELDEN NEWTON, JR.

